The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-05
League be put upon itf' [Cries of Ser
tainly.'1
JURY PArKINE


Lord Randolph Churchill-If so there
would be nothing in the whole history of
jury packing iilSeit [Cheersl Besides the
powers of the committee would not be
equal to those of a court of law. The COM
mittee indeed would be hopelessly incompe-
tent TO settle such questions of law as a court
could incur The prosecution would proceed
at the cost of the country with the employ
ment OF any counsel the Irish members
liked to name In this way truth would be
arrived at and justice done the offenders
Mr. Dillon said he did not consider the
ordinary tribunals of England in the
present state of political feelipgion the Irish
question fairly open to omembefsot the Irish
party in the House of Commons. He there
fore maintained that he had right to be
heard before committee.
HELD UP TO opIuM
For six years the Parnellites had been
held up to the public odium as criminals.
| Some of them, in the meantime, had been
imprisoned Enough hs6 been done end said
in these six years to prejudice the minds of
any English jury possible to impanel. He
must decline to take proceedings in civil
action against the Times, because he be-
lieyed he had no chance of obtaining ver-
dict. IT, on the other hand, a select COM
mittee of members of the House be appointed
to hear the case, he would be contented that
|
a single Irishman
THE CHARGE OF FALsEHoOD.
Mr.. Gladstone intimated that in the event
of the adoption OF Sir Edward Clark's mo-
ton he would move an amendment to the
main question to the effect that an inquiry
be made by the committee into the charges
of wilful falsehood in the speech delivered
in the House of Commons brought in an
article by the Times against Mr.. Dillon.
! [Cheers
w. II. Smith asked if Mr.. Gladstone
would make that motion at once
| Mr. Gladstone said he was surprised at
the suggestion, coming as it did from the
government leader in the House For him
! (dr. Gladstone) to make such a motion at
the present time would be only making con
fusion and it would tend to obscure tine
issue if the course suggested by Mr.. Smith
was followed. On motion of Mr. Brad
laugh the debate was adjourned.
THE TIMES ON THE MoTIoE.
The Times, in an editorial referring to
| Mr.. Lewis motion that the House of Com
mons take notice of the Times charges
| against Mr. Dillon, saws: "We are unable
toSee why Mr., Lewis felt called upon to
protest We have no objection to the issue
being raised, either in or out of Parliament.
Still we cannot help regretting that urgent
business should be delayed even for a day
| by debate over what we published in good
| faith and with evidence conhrmatory of
everything we advanced. While we shrink
from no form of inquiry we do not think
the House would be wei advised in dealing
with the question as one of privi-
| lege. While not wishing to discuss
the merits of the controversy at the present
moment we would say that no journal in
| the United Kingdom, least of all the organs
of the Parnellites, would be+safe for week
if it were held admissible to contradict any
statement in the House, even il the ampiest
proof be furnished at the time in support of
the contradiction. In electing to challenge
this decision, the Parnellites have chosen
curiously narrow ground. They must be
aware that the statements assailed as q
breach of privilege must be dealt with sep
arately from other matters that hitherto
have been allowed to remain untouched"
1t is generally thought that the result of
the governments decision in the Dillon case
will be that the Times viii escape prosecu-
ton. This opion is based on the known un-
willingness of the government to bring the
Times to the bar and the declared opposition
of the Irish members to suing the Times in
England.
PARNELLITE CONFERENCE.
The Parnellites will hold conference to-
morrow to consider the Dillon Times affair
Mr.. Gladstone spent large part of the
evening searching for precedents for the ap-
pointment of select committee to consider
breaches of privilege.
THE GOVERNMENT TRAP.
The debate in the House of Commons to-
day disclosed government tactics .cading to
the following issues: The government will
first carry an amendment to the effect that
the Times accusation Is not breach of
privilege, and next they will reject Mr..
Gladstones proposal for commission of in
quiry. The Parnellites will thus be left to
accept or reject the offer of the government
prosecution of the Times, with the Attor-
ney General assisting the Parnellite coun-
sell If they assented to the prosecution the
Irish leaders would be subjected to an ex-
animation in which would be ex-
posed the whole secret history of the league
since its formation
NOT TO BE CAUGHT.
Being fully aware of the trap set for them,
the Parnellites will consent TO nothing but
the appointment of q committee. On the
other hand the Conservatives generally are
opposed to u committee being appointed
because it would have to be composed of
nearly equal numbers of Gladstonians and
Conservatives. Witnesses are not examined
under oath, except in special cases. When
the line of inquiry is deemed dangerous,
either side has power to protest andl to chal-
lenge division. "A section of thesMinsteri
alists is inclined to favor the appointment
of a committee, on the ground that us
the Parnellites will not prosecute,
a committee of inquiry is better than moth
ing, as it will assist in sustaining the crime
outcry In the meantime Mr. Smith is
manouvering to force the Parnelites to pub
lie trial. The final divisions are expected
on Friday. Urgent ''whips'' have been sent
out by both sides and all absentees are be-
ing drummed in. The Liberal Unionists